News and information about transportation, including roads, transit, hiker-biker trails and pedestrian safety.

Monday, September 30, 2013

Leggett Announces Availability of First Montgomery County Bikeshare Stations; Program is First Bikeshare in Maryland

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett (second from right)
launched the first installment of the County’s 51 Bikeshare stations
with 450 bikes. Bikeshare riders will be able to use any bike in the
regional Capital Bikeshare network including the District of Columbia,
Arlington and Alexandria. Pictured are (from left to right) Montgomery
County Councilmembers Hans Riemer and Roger Berliner (Valerie Ervin not
pictured), Maryland Transportation Secretary James T. Smith, Jr. and
Senator Brian Frosh.

On September 27, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett celebrated the grand opening of the County’s Bikeshare Network, launching the first installment of 51 Bikeshare stations and 450 bikes in Bethesda, Friendship Heights, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Rockville, Shady Grove and the Life Sciences Center area. Montgomery County’s Bikeshare program is the first in Maryland and is part of the regional Capital Bikeshare network, linking the County with the District of Columbia, Arlington and Alexandria’s Bikeshare systems.

Leggett made the announcement in Rockville at one of the 21 area stations designed to encourage low-income reverse commuters and job trainees to use Bikeshare. Those who qualify will receive a free, one-year membership in Capital Bikeshare.

Bikesharing provides short-term bicycle rentals at self-service, automated, solar-powered docking stations located at publicly accessible sites. Bikes may be picked up at one location and returned to another, creating a system that allows for one-way trips. Bikeshare is considered ideal for short trips of less than five miles. Trips under 30 minutes are included in the membership fee, while longer trips are charged based on their duration.

Over the next few weeks, the remaining Montgomery County stations will open. More information about Bikeshare and a map showing installed stations in the County is available online. For information on eligibility for free Bikeshare memberships and program benefits for low income residents, contact Montgomery County Commuter Services by email or phone at 240-777-8380.